Plan
Last week, I shared my plan for adding mice cavorting around my Cats in the Attic quilt. Just like so many certain plans, this quickly went awry. It turns out hooping heavy stabilizer was an impossible task. The stabilizer was so stiff that getting it to bend as needed in the hoop simply wasn’t happening. So, time for Plan B.
This reminds me of those unexpected twists and turns life takes. When I graduated from high school, I knew that, without a doubt, I was going to be a high school math teacher. Several weeks into college calculus that plan flew out the window. What life has taught me is to be nimble. If one plan doesn’t work, scrap it and move on.
Plan B
Check out the smirk on the mouse in the above image? Isn’t it a riot? That is a bit how I felt when I returned to what I know, BUT also figured out something new on the Bernina 990.
After ditching the full sheet of heavy stabilizer, I cut small rectangular patches slightly larger than the mice to be embroidered. I attached these to the back of the quilt using painter’s tape along the perimeter. I’ve done this many times before. The tricky part is aligning exactly where I want the embroidery to stitch out. I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice it to say, I discovered the position button. It allows me to visualize the mouse on the quilt and move it horizontally and vertically until it is precisely where I want it. Combine that with a rotation tool that allows for 360 degrees of rotation and it is a miracle.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
Drum roll, please! Here is the big reveal.
Next week I plan to start quilting. Perhaps I can work out a free motion quilting pattern based on a cat’s paw. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Question of the Week
How have you benefited when the plan you had your heart set on didn’t work out?
I’m linking up to the following posts:
The little mice are such a cute addition to the cat quilt. Great idea!!
Thanks, Sara. I knew I had to add mice as soon as I chose to add sashing and corner stones.
Oh, those little mice are cute, Gwyned! That is a fun idea, and I’m so glad you were able to figure out how to make the embroidery work. You always learn something new when your first idea doesn’t work and you have to try again. I learned that so many times when teaching and you could tell the kids were not getting it. I’d have to think through what didn’t work right, and figure out a new way to present the material. Most of the time, the second try was more successful!
It is amazing how many fabulous machine embroidery patterns are available for a song on Etsy. The trick was to find cute, but not cutesy mice. Didn’t need them dressed, for example. However different poses were perfect. Much as I have loved all of my past sewing machines, they were very basic. I am constantly making discoveries about the capabilities of the Bernina 990.Cats in the Attic allowed me to learn yet another genius trick available to me.
Everyone learns differently. I have to learn things visually and by doing before I can understand anything told to me orally. I definitely don’t learn well by rote. Your students were blessed to have a teacher like you who could convey new material in multiple ways.
I’m not a fan of mice in real life but they are super cute in your quilt! Regarding your question of the week, I’ve had the very experience in the past few months. The plans I had for my denim quilt fell apart and had to come up with new ones. This experience taught me a big lesson to listen to what the quilt wants. Once I let go of my wants, things went on smoother.
Funny how that works, isn’t Margo. Quilts do speak and even shout. The trick is to pay attention and let go of what “we” think is best.
Those mice taunting the cats with their presence really ups the fun factor in your cat quilt! Well done!
Always good to hear from you, Gail. Best advice I ever received in an 8 week quilting class was from Sandy Donabed Townsend. The class was focused on how to transform from a quilter to fiber artist. As part of the class we had to design and make an art quilt. Once we are all fully committed to the piece, Sandy asked us to do something radically different to the quilt. That was in 1989. Ever since that question is in the back of the mind. So, adding those mice, although not part of the original plan simply evolved with the quilt.
You knocked it out of the park adding those mice! They add a whimsical touch to your project! Rarely does a project of mine work finish the way I envisioned it. I too tend to roll with the journey and let the project speak. . .although sometimes I either don’t hear it, understand it or I even ignore it! LOL
That was my hope. I’m delighted you appreciated the whimsical touch. As we have shared before, Terry, our muses can come up with apparently great ideas, but the maker may opt not to take them up it due to a myriad of factors.
I have been anticipating seeing these mice. Oh how adorable they are. What wonderful additions to this Kitty quilt.
Thank you, thank you, Cathie. Your encouragement, ever since I first mentioned I was thinking of adding mice, was one of the primary reasons why I knew I would go forward with the idea.
Love the meese, takes the quilt to another level and puts a smile on the viewer’s face.
Several years ago I was starting an improv quilt that had planned circular elements. I quickly realized I did not have enough fabric for the large circles I envisioned. I pivoted off to smaller circles and boxes. The quilt came out spectacular and it’s not just me saying that, a got accolades from Jane Dunnawald on it!!!
Accolades from Jane Dunnawald, to quote my British SIL, “Well done, you!” Large circles, if you had had the fabric, would likely have been the easier route. However, combine curves and sharp angles, probably lead to a more intriguing piece.
I don’t love cats or mice, but your quilt really turned out cute & I can admire them from afar. Great idea on the stabilizer hack & positioning.
What a lovely compliment.. Thank you, Sue. As for the stabilizer hack, that is how I have been doing things. However positioning it just right in the back takes a few extra steps I was hoping to avoid. Even with practice it takes approximately 10 minutes to set up each embroidery. So, with 15 mice that was 2.5 hours, just for prep.
Great finish, Gwyned!!! (Sorry I can’t get interested in mice–they invade my kitchen every autumn…) The kitties are so colorful and fun! Cat’s paw quilting sounds perfect!
It is amazing what tiny spaces mice find to enter a home. We haven’t had any problems in our current home. However, our previous home did require SEDOSO to seal a few holes. No mice after that. Would you believe I saw a FMQ paw design, just last night. I think it should be quite easy to replicate. Glad you like that idea.
Adorable quilt, Gwyned! Love the added mice and of course the kitties. Sorry you had problems with stiff stabilizer, but glad it worked out in the end. There has been times when I’ve had to ‘do it my way’ (quilts), because a pattern, or idea, didn’t work out. Always learning something new from it.
Sometimes I think the problem solving can be the best part of quilting. It can feel overwhelming and impossible at the time, but oh, the thrill of finding a solution.
Those mice are simply adorable and perfect for the cat quilt. Cat Paw quilting is a perfect idea, and appropriate.
Thank you, Jeanna. Sometimes I get an idea and just works.
Oh, these little mice are so adorable, I love all the different poses! It looks like they are hiding from the cats, but not too far away either ;)) Oh yes, a cat’s paw quilting is going to be perfect! Great also to learn a new feature from your machine. Thank you for sharing your lovely quilt top and linking up.
It was the fact that mice came in different poses that nudged me into purchasing the pattern. Changed them from vermin to cute. Always nice to learn something new.